Voters acted in 2015 to force the city to turn off red light cameras that were located at several Tucson intersections. The camera in the 2016 file photo, however, was among several that were still up, but inactive, months after the vote.
Red light cameras
As someone who was extremely embarrassed to receive a red light camera ticket about 10 years ago, I strongly support their return.
The situation in Tucson has gotten ridiculously dangerous since the red light cameras disappeared. At major intersections there is now usually a 2 to 3 second delay for a green light after the left turn arrow turns yellow, then red. Yet, it is typical for cars to still be streaming through the left-turn lane after the opposing light turned green.
A month ago, while taking my grandson home from school, I was almost killed when I had to do a panic stop as a driver blew through the intersection as I started through a green light. My grandson almost witnessed my death in a massive crash.
Tucson drivers, at least many of them, should get the red light cameras they deserve ... careful drivers have nothing to worry about.
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Bruce Hilpert
North side
ACC election important
Many thanks to the Star’s editors for printing Margo Hule’s LTE in the June 27 issue. Ms Hule is spot on when she states, “ACC is an agency captured by dark money ...” Republican-backed candidates have consistently lied and denigrated Democratic candidates in every election I can recall. These candidates are, with no exception, supported by TEP and other utilities. How they get away with such smear tactics is a mystery.
We need to elect candidates “who will actually represent the people.” Vote for Democrats running for the Arizona Corporation Commission this November.
Jerry Helm
Northwest side
Our obsession with profit now
From the article "Both Parties Struggle to Connect with Latino Voters" 'If (either party) can help my cost of living ... I'm open to hearing about it."
This quote is an example of how this nation got where it is today. A Latino voter is willing to vote for a Republican so long as it saves them money. Never mind that the Republican Party is clearly in favor of violent action against Latinos. The United States is obsessed with profit now. It’s why we can't have universal health care. It’s why we allow equity companies to rape and pillage. It’s why we continue to vote for a party that promises tax cuts while gutting social services. We will gladly do whatever it takes to save fifty cents today, knowing it will cost us a dollar tomorrow.
"We Made Money Today" will be on the United States' headstone.
David Reynolds
East side
The idiot
Trump's doctors say that he is in perfect health. Must be the same doctors who found his bone spurs.
Donald Bernier
Midtown
Quick question
Does anyone else out there believe that they are actually living in the prequel to the movie "Idiocracy?" Just wondering
Jeff Stephens
East side
Deeper in debt
Between 20-40% of U.S. economic growth between 1960 and 2010 came from opportunities for women and people of color, according to University of Chicago and Stanford research. For the last 25 years, 40% of Nobel Prize science winners have been U.S. immigrants.
Yet: Recent studies show strong correlations between Trump immigration policies and a brain drain of STEM innovators. H1-B visas have fallen by 40% and F-1 visas by 29%. Foreign-born biomedical researchers are leaving. Trump has cut grants from the National Science Foundation by 20-30%.
QED: China leads the US output into top-tier scientific publications, leads the U.S. in 57 of 64 critical industry and security technology categories and has surpassed the U.S. in R&D investment, now over $1 trillion.
Between the War and the BBB, the US inflation rate is 4.2 % — double the GDP growth rate of 2.1%, and the debt-to-GDP ratio is a staggering 122%!
Trump is bleaching us whiter, dumber and deeper in debt.
Chuck Barrett
Midtown
Healthcare fraud
This piece implies widespread ACA fraud based on missing Social Security numbers. But HHS notes that many lawfully present immigrants with valid visas and ACA eligibility wouldn’t necessarily have an SSN. Those here illegally were already barred from enrolling. Missing SSNs can also reflect data-matching issues, not misconduct.
A bigger driver: zero-premium plans for lower-income enrollees gave brokers incentive to enroll people at scale — earning $5–$30 per member monthly — often without verification or enrollees’ knowledge. Enhanced direct enrollment lets brokers sign up consumers without identity proofing. By 2024, brokers facilitated 78% of active plan selections, up from 55% in 2021.
The unnamed writer cites 450 prosecuted fraud cases. Fraud should be prosecuted — but that’s small against 22.8 million ACA enrollees.
Finally, citing “fraud and abuse,” HHS cut roughly 15,000 employees, consolidated 28 divisions into 15, and eliminated 5 of 10 regional offices — part of a reduction from 82,000 to 62,000 employees agency-wide.
That’s like fighting a fire with kerosene.
Fred Fiastro
Foothills
Another red scare
I wondered where Mr. Dowdall (July 3) came up with the idea about how “progressives have morphed into Communists” with “lunatics embracing Marxist ideals”. Then I watched Donald’s diatribe at Mount Rushmore about the same thing. I guess it’s the new mantra. Joseph McCarthy tried the same thing in the 1950s. How’d that turn out for him? The most memorable response to his methods was “You’ve done enough. Have you no sense of decency, Sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?” It’s interesting how name-calling is the first line of defense for those who have no idea what they are talking about.
Margaret Gordon Magruder
Downtown
Without penalty
Donald Trump’s influence can never be erased. Long after he is gone, his actions will still affect the nation and its people who gave him carte blanche to do his worst. The wealthy tycoons who surround him, the politicians who are under his sway, and his hand-picked administrators who have peddled their integrity for the spotlight share in our skid to the bottom.
Trump found out that with the right people in place, he could do wrong without regard to anything that might curtail his destructive impulses. Openly, he has already made grim days for minorities and the destitute, who previously were given respect and aid. Now that is shut.
The people he has hurt without penalty will skew the thinking of generations to come about what is possible for men with ill intent who flout public concerns without fear of reprisal.
Ron Lancaster
North side
US military aiding Venezuela
This is the America I love — and the one I’m proud of. We were the first to arrive. The U.S. military deployed to Venezuela immediately after the devastating double 7.0 earthquakes, which struck less than a minute apart. It’s hard to imagine the scale of destruction caused by two massive quakes hitting in such rapid succession.
The United States responded with the same commitment, precision, and urgency it brings to winning battles. Our military used the very assets that track hemispheric threats to assess damage, coordinate logistics, and build an operational plan capable of supporting a nation in crisis.
Phil Stewart did a wonderful job telling this story. His reporting makes it easy to understand the scope of the mission and the meaningful impact the U.S. made in aiding a country in need.
Carolyn Davis
East side
Mount Trumpmore
Americans, let’s face it, like it or not, for the next two and a half years we are going to have to take it on the chin, as 47 will make darn sure that his name and likeness adorn anything and everything that can be imagined. He will make it difficult for future incoming presidents and administrations to remove his name and likeness thrust upon us. Mount Rushmore was conceived in 1923 by historian Doane Robinson to boost South Dakota tourism, and it took Gutzon Borglum and 400 others 14 years to complete the marvel. Rushmore’s four presidents represent four of our nation's founding Father(s) (Washington), expansion (Jefferson), development (T. Roosevelt), and preservation (Lincoln). I’m not sure what our narcissist-in-chief’s bust will represent on this granite mountain in the Black Hills. It remains to be seen whether this will boost South Dakota tourism. Unfortunately, we have to face the music.
Max LaPlante
Southeast side
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